Invalid&#39;s bed



Oct. 25, 1932.

A. COMPER INVALIDS BED Filed July 17, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l Vw fluor/mudo.

A. COMPER INVALIDS BED Oct. 25, 1.932.

Filed July 17, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @al LV kiwi?- dm'az Comp @7^ Vw @M01/muje.

A. COMPER INVALID S BED Oct. 25, 1932.

Filed July 17 1931 5 sheets-sheet 5 oct. 25, 1932. A. COVMPER 1,884,577

INVALID S BED Filed July 17. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNirsn STATES EITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS Appncation mea July 17,

\ supporting sections, together with means for separating said hip-supporting sections and elevating a commode between them, and withr such structures, two dihiculties have been encountered. First, the outward sliding of the hip sections yand later the inward sliding thereof with the patients hips resting thereon,have given a great deal ofrdiscomfort to the patient. Second, as soon as lowering of the commode has started, the'hip sections of the mattress havestarted to close, thereby.

giving. insuiiicient room between said sections to facilitate after-cleaning of the patient.

It is the aim of the present inventionto provide a generally improved and simplified construction in which the above mentioned ditliculties are edectively overcome, and in attaining this end, further aims are to pro-y vide unique means for vertically o-setting the head and hip-supporting'sections of the mattress to tree the patients'hips from contact with said hip sections when the latter are tokbe moved inwardly or outwardly; to provide unique means whereby movement of the commode elevator actuates the shiftable supports for the hip-supporting mattress sections, embodying provision for delayinginwardsliding of saidk shiftable supports until the commode elevator has dropped suiciently. to readily allow after-cleaning of the patient; to provide a novelv jack structure for lifting a section, otv the mattress, and Vtoprovide av generally advantageous consnfuction.V

lli/'ith theV foregoing in view, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter describedand claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. y

Fig. 1.is a side elevation of abcd embodying` the present improvements. l Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view Vof iNVALIns BED 1931. serial. No. 551,438.

the central portion of the bed, (mattress omitted). Y y l Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3ofFig.2.

Fig. [L1 is a vertical sectional view online 4%-4 'of Fig. 3, showing in full lines the normal position of the swingable arms which outwardly shift the supports for the hip sections of the mattress, and illustrating in dotted lines a'position to which said arms swing idly whilethe above-named jack is functioning, to lift the inner end 'of the mattress head section.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. t but showing the hip sections ofthe mattress separated 65 and the commode elevated between them.

6 isa viewz'si'milar to Fig'. 3 but illustrating the manner linwhich'the patients hips are freed from Contact with the shiftable hip-supporting sections 'of the mattress before shifting of 'i the latter, and this view shows the commode partially elevated.

7 is aY vview, similar to'Fig. 6 but showing the commode completely elevated and the head and hip sections of the mattress restored to `flushv relation with each other.

`Fig. Sis a fiew' similar to Figs. 6 and 7 but illustrating the manner in which the patients hips 'are/held above the shiftable mattress sectionswhile the latter are being closed after use of the commode, and this view shows the commode andits elevator in the act of descent.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the major portion of the frame structure which carries the shiftable supports for the hip sections of the mattress, the commode elevator, and-operating means for said supports and elevator. Y n

Fig. 10.is a detail horizontal sectional view on line 10e-10 of Fig. 3.

F ig. V11 is a disassembled perspective view showing portions of the jack structure.

Only one form of construction has been ierein disclosechand while such construction will be rather specifically described, it isgtzo be understood at the outset, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

The construction disclosed embodies a hand lever anda reversible ratchet connection be- ARAN CGMPER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSTGNOR TO HOSPITAL APPLIANCES, INC., OIFY 18 and 19 and said frame structure,

.readily disengageable when turn-buckles 21 tween this lever and a shaft which constitutes a main actuator for the various movable parts, but it is to be understood that other suitable provision, for instance an electric drive, could well be employed or said shaft. Then too, the mattress sections may be of any known or preferred construction, the same isv tional mattress-supporting springs.

The improved bed embodies a mattress composed of a rectangular head section 15, a rectan ular foot section 16, and two laterally shiftab e hip-supporting sections 17, said sections all normally lying in such co-operative relation as to provide the equivalent of an unbroken mattress. Spring supports 18 and ,"19 are provided for the mattress sections 15 and 16, the remote ends of said spring supports anchored in any preferred manner while their inner ends have releasable connections with a central transverse frame structure which carries all movable parts, the connections between said spring supports being embodied in one or the other of said sections (lzlir in both) are loosened. In the present s owing, the inner ends of the spring supports 18 and 19 are secured to flat bars 20 and the latter have quick-detachable pin and slot connections 20 with the frame structure.

The above-mentioned frame structure embodies two arallel transverse bars 22 carrying rollers 3 which en age channeled tracks 24 of two rectangular rames 25, said frames carrying s ring supports 26 for the hip sections. 17 o the mattress. Secured to and defrom the bars 22, are two substantiall' l-shaped sub-frames 27 and 27 which are tied to ether near their upper ends by bats or theike28 and are similarly tied at .their lower ends by cross braces 29 or other geferred means. Each of these sub-frames and 27 embodies two vertical channelshaped tracks 30 havin their channels disosed outwardly away om each other, and tween the lower ends of these tracks of the frame 27', a gap 31 exists to accommodate a spirocket wheel hereinafter described. Wea enmg of the frame by this gap, is coun- `teracted by an appropriate stay 32 secured between the tracks 30 of the frame 27', near lthe lower ends of said tracks, said stay preferably consisting of a conventional bolt and sleeve.

A commode elevator 33 is disposed between the sub-frames 27 and 27 said elevator having bracket-carried rollers 34 engaging the tracks 30. The elevator 33 is provided with an upstanding flange 35 or with other desired means for holding a commode or bed pan 36, in such manner that it may be readily removed.

Pivoted to the inner sides of the frames 27 and 27', two to each frame, are four laterally swin able arms 37 which are best seen in Figs. 3, and 5. The pivots 38 for these arms are at the lower ends of the latter, and connecting means 39 are provided between the upper ends of said arms and the shiftable supporting frames 25 of the hip sections 17 of the mattress. Slidably-engaged connecting means are employed betweenthe commode elevator 33 and the arms 37, said slidablyengaged connecting means being operative to effect swinging of said arms to spread the frames 25 and the mattress sections 17 when said elevator is raised, and to effect inward return of said frames and mattress sections upon lowering of said elevator. In the present showing, the connecting means 39 embody provision for allowing lost-motion of the arms 37 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, before said arms will outwardly shift the frames 25, and while this lost-motion is taking place, a jack 4() hereinafter described. raises t e inner end of the head section 15 of the mattress, as seen in Fig. 6, so as to free the patients hips from contact with the mattress sections 17, thereby insuring that the outward sliding of the latter shall not give discomfort to the patient.

The lost-motion connecting means 39, in

the construction herein disclosed, embody overlapped lugs 41 and 42 on-the arms 37 and the frames 25 respectively. and pin and slot connections 43 between said lugs.

The slidably engaged connecting means between the commode elevator 33 and the arm 1 37, are preferably established by providing the arms with longitudinal channels 44, the elevator 33 being provided with rollers 45 carried by brackets 46, said rollers (or other shoes if desired) being slidably received in said channels 44. Normally, the arms 37 converge upwardly as shown in Fig. 4, and each of these arms 1s provided with an outwardly bowed lower end portion 47 and with a straight upper end portion 48. Upon ascent of the elevator 33, the rollers 45 and curved arm portions 47 co-act to initially swing said arms outwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, there being no movement of the frames 25 during such initial swingingr of the arms, due to the lost-motion connecting means 39. During this interval, the jack 4() comes into play as seen in Fig. 6, raising the patients hips clear of the mattress sections 17.

Now, upon further ascent of the elevator 33, 1

Cia

ofthe straight arm portions 48, the frames 25 have been completely separated, and during the remaining ascent "of the elevator 33, the commode 36 moves into position betweenk the four mattress sections! By the time this has takenv place, the jack again functions to lower the patient upon the commode 36, by restoring the mattress section 15 into flush relation with the other mattress sections. After use of the commode, the. initial descent of the elevator 33 eliects no swinging of the arms 37, due to the fact that their straight portions 48 are then vertical as seen inFig. 5, and during such initial elevator descent, the jack 40 functions to again elevate the mattress section 15.` The elevator 30 and commode 36 drop suihciently during this initial descent to allow ample'r'oom for after-cleaning the patient, and when this khas been accomplished and thev elevator 33 lis restored to its final lowered position, the rollers and arms 37 co-act in returning the supports 25 and the mattress sections 17, and when these operations have been completed, the jack 40 again lowers the mattress section 15 into flush relation with the other mattress sections. The commode 36 may then be readily removed from the elevator, emptied, sterilized and returned in readiness for further use.

An endless chain is mounted upon the sub-frame 27 and at 51 is'connected with the elevator 33 for raising and lowering the latter. This chain is trained around an upper sprocket 52, a lower sprocket 53 and an intermediate sprocket 54. All of these sprockets may well be carried by bracket plates 55 se cured to vertical bars 56 embodied in the construction oi the frame 27. Sprocket 54 is secured upon an operating shaft 57 which may be provided with any desired driving means. In the present showing, a hand lever 58 and an appropriate reversible ratchet 59, are employed for rotating the shaft 57 in either direction.

Rotatable bodily with the sprocket 53, is a cam 60 having an edge 61 concentric with the sprocket 53, and two cam portions 62 and 63 which mergeinto the ends of said edge 61 and extend into close relation with the cam axis. The cam 60 constitutes an actuator :tor the jack 40, said jack comprising twin shanks slidable in upper and lower guides 64 and 65 on the plates 55, an arched saddle plate 66 connecting the upper ends of said shanks, and a horizontal plate'67 preferably having a quick-detachable connection with said saddle Operation The various movable parts stand normally as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the frames 25 and the mattress sections 17 being at the limit of their inward movement with the latter in tlush relation with the mattress sect-ions 15 and 16, the commode elevator 33 being at the limit of its downward movement, the arms 3,7 being in their inwardly swung positions, the acl-r 40 being lowered and the cam 60 set with its cam portion 62 associated with the jack as seen in Fig. 3. W'hen it is now desired to elevate the commode 36 for use, the ratchet lever 58 is operated to drive the chain 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, thereby start-ing the elevator 33 on its ascent. Movement of the chain 5() oi' course drives the cam 60 and hence during the initial ascent of the elevator 33, the cam portion 62 raises the j ack 40 to the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby elevating the mattress section l5 and free-- ing the patients hips trom Contact with the shittable mattress sections 17. During this Ainitial ascent of the elevator 33, the arms 37 merely swing idly, due to the lost motion connections 39 with the frames 25, until the cam 60 has effected raising o'r' the mattress section 15. the time such raising of this mattress section has taken place however, the lostmotion connections 39 have reached the limit ot their lostemotion and they then start to shift the frames 25 outwardly, said frames carrying with them the mattress sections 17. lVhen the arms 37 have been outwardly swung so that their straight upper ends 48 are ver? tical, the continued ascent ot the elevator 33 will not further shift the trames 25, and as the par-.s continue to move, the commode 35 is elevated between the sections 17 and the jack 40 is lowered by the cam portion 63 (Fig. 7 thereby again lowering the mattress section 15 into ilush relation with the other sections and lowering the patient onto the commode 36. While the commode is elevated and in use, the various parts occupy the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 7. After use of the commode, the ratchet 59 is reversed and the lever 58 is used to drive the chain 50 and the cam 60 in th-e direction indicated by the arrow in F ig. 8. As soon as the parts start yto move, the cam portion 63 raises the jack 46,

thereby raising the mattress section 15 as shown in Fig. 9. l/Vhile tl is has been taking place, the elevator 33 has descended somewhat without moving the arms 37, the rollers 45 having traveled only along the straight parallel upper ends 48 of said arms. By thus elevating the patient and dropping the coni-` mode without effecting any inward movement of the shiftable mattress sections 17. ample space is allowed for after-cleaning ot' the patient. llhen such'cleaning has been eiiected, the hand lever 58 is further operated to eiiect return ot the parts to normal. As the elevator 33 further descends, it eects insro ward swinging of the arms 37 while the jack 4.0 still holds the mattress section 15 elevated. After the arms 37 have entirely closed or inwardly slid the mattress sections 17 however,

"7 the jack 40 again lowers the mattress section l5 so that all of the sections of the mattress again lie in flush relation. The various parts now again assume the relation shown in Fig 3, and the commode 35 may be conveniently 1%? slid from the elevator for emptying and sterilizing, said commode being of course returned and placed upon the elevator in readiness for further use.

Whenever desired, the entire central frame ^3 structure may be disconnected from the remainder of the bed, for instance for thorough sterilizing, reiainting, etc. vWhen such deila-chment of the frame structure is to be effected, loosening of the turn buckles 2O will allow easy disconnection of the strips or bars d 20, from the frame structure, the latter being then shiftable as a single unit from the remainder of the bed. W'hen this frame structure is re-positioned and the bars or the like f5' 20 again connected with it, tightening of the turn-buckles 21 will again tension the spring supports 18 and 19 to provide for proper support of the mattress.

Attention is again invited to the fact that 0 within the scope of the invention as claim-ed,

numerous variations may be made, and it will be obvious that either friction or an appropriate brake (not shown) may be employed to hold the movable parts when the elevator '35 33 is in its entirely raised position or the position which it occupies while cleaning the patient.

I claim 1. In an invalids bed, a mattress having Yi a head section, a foot section and laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said inattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, and means for raisinnr the portion of said head section fi toward said hip sections to free the patients hips from said hip sections while separa-ting the latter, and for again lowering said poi'- tion of said head section while said hip sections are separated.

2. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section and two laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, andy means for vertically offsetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients hips from said hip sections while the latter are being separa-ted and for readjusting said head and hip sections into flush relation while sald hip sections are separated.

means forV vertically offsetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients hips from said hip sections while the latter are being separated, for then re-adjusting said head and hip sections into flushV relation, for later again vertically offsetting said hip and head sections while the former are being shifted back together, and for finally again restoring said hip and head sections into flush relation. I

4. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section and two laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, and raising means for the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections, whereby said end of said-head section may be raised to cause the patients hips to clear said hip sections when the latter are to be moved.

5. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section and two laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, a plate under the end of said head section adjacent said hip sections, and means for raising and lowering said plate, whereby said end of said head section may be raised to free the patient-s hips from said hip sections when the latter are to be moved.

6. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section and two laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said mattresssections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, a plate under the end of said head section toward said hip sections a vertically ided shank whose upper en carries sai plate, and means for raisingk and lowering said shank, whereby said end of said head section may be raised to free the patients hips from said hip sections when the latter are to be moved.

7. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section, and two laterally shitable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shift-able supporting means for said hip sections,

means for vertically oisetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients l. f

hips from said hip sections, means for shifting said hi sections away from each other, and means or successively operating said otisettin means and said shifting means.

8. n an invalids bed, a mattresshaving a head section, a foot section, and two laterally shiitable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, means for vertically offsetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients hips from said hip sections, means for shifting said hip sections apart, normally lowered commode elevating means positioned to lift a commode between said hip 9. In' an invalids bed, a mattress having` a head section, a foot section, and two laterally shiftable hip sections lsupports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, means for vertically offsetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients h ips from said hi sections, means for shifting said hip sections apart, normally lowered commode elevating means positioned to lift a commode between said hip sections when the la ter are se arated ando eratin means for first effecting said offsetting of mattress sec- Y tions, for then shifting said hip sections apart Cil and elevating the commode between them, and for then re-adjusting said hip and head sections into flush relation with each other.

10. In an invalids bed, a mattress having a head section, a foot section, and two laterally shiftable hip sections; supports for said mattress sections embodying shiftable supporting means for said hip sections, means for vertically offsetting said head section and said hip sections to free the patients hips from said hip sections, means for shifting said hip sections apart, normally lowered commode elevating means positioned to lift a commode between said hip sections when the latter are separated, and operating means for first eifecting said offsetting of mattress sections, for then shifting said hip sections apart and elevating the commode between them, for then re-adjusting said hip and head sections into flush relation, for later lowering the commode, again vertically offsetting said hip and head sections and closing said hip sections, and for again restoring said hip and head sections to flush relation.

11. In an invalids bed, a mattress embodying a head section, a foot section, and laterally shiftable hip sect-ions; supporting means for said sections embodying a frame carrying shiftable supports for said hip sections, a commode elevator mounted on said frame, operating connections between said elevator and said shiftable supports for separating the latter upon ascent of said elevater, a ack mounted on said frame and engaging the'end of said head section toward said shiftable sections, and means for raising said jack and said elevator, said operating connections embodying provision for delaying separation of said shiftable supports and the hip sections carried thereby until said jack has raised said end of said head section.

12. In an invalids bed, a mattress embodying a head section, a foot section, and laterally shiftable hip sections; supporting means for said mattress sections embodying a. frame carrying shiftable supports for said hip sections, a commode elevator mountedon said frame, laterally swingable arms pivoted at their lower ends to said frame, connecting means betweenthe upper ends of said arms and said shiftable supports, slidably engaged connecting means between said elevator andsaid arms for outwardly swinging 'the arms to separate said shiftable supports and the mattress sections carried thereby, a jack mounted on said frame and engaged with the end of said head section toward said shiftable sections, and means for raising said jack and said elevator, at least one ofthe aforesaid connecting means embodying provision.,V for delaying separation of said shiftable frames and the hip sections carried thereby untill said tion.

13. In an invalids bed, a mattress embodying a head section, a foot section, and lateraljack has raised said end of said head secly shiftable hip sections; supporting means for said mattress sections embodying a frame carrying shiftable supports -for said hip sections, a commode elevator mounted on said frame, laterally swingable arms pivoted at their lower ends to said frame,lost-motion-- connecting means between the upper ends of said arms and said shiftable supports, slidably engaged connecting means between said elevator and said arms for outwardly swinging the arms to separate said shiftable sup Y ports and the mattress sections carried thereby, a jack mounted on said frame and engaged with the end of said head section toward said shiftable sections, and means for raising said jack andV said elevator, said lost-- motion connecting means vallowing sumcient idle swinging of said Varms to allow said jach to raise said end of said head section of the mattress before said arms separate said shiftable supports and said hip sections of the Y mattress.

commode elevator mounted on said frame,

operating connections betweenV said elevator and said shiftable supports for separating the latter upon ascent of said elevator, a jack mounted on said frame and engaging-the end of said head section toward said shiftable sections, anv endless chain mounted onsaid frame and connected withsaid lelevator for raising the latter, ay driving shaft for said chain mounted onsaid frame, and a cam on said shaft for raising said jack, said operating connections embodying provision for delaying separation of saidV shiftable supports and the hip sections carried thereby until said cam has raised said jack to raise saidiend of said head section.

15. In an invalids bed, a mattress embodying a head section, a foot section, and laterally shiftable hip sections; supporting means for Said mattress sections embodyinfv a frame carrying shiftable supports for said hip sections, a commode elevator mounted onsaid frame, laterally swingable arms pivoted at4 their lower ends to said frame, connecting means between the upper ends of said arms and said shiftable supports, slidablyengaged i connecting means between said elevator and Said arms for outwardly swinging the arms to separate said shiftable supports and the sections carried thereby, a ack mounted on said frame and engaged with the d of said head section toward said shifta le sections, an endless chain mounted on said frame and connected with said elevator for raising the latter, a driving shaft for said chain mounted on said frame, and a cam on A Saidishaft for raising said jack, at least one altable sup of said connecting means embod in provifOr delaying separation of said s iftable supports and the hip sections carried thereuntil said cam has raised said jack to raise said end of said head section.

16, In an invalids bed, two laterally shiftable bi -supporting mattress sections having able hip-supporting mattress sections having ghiftable supports, a frame under said supshifting said supports and raising said elevator, said means embodying provision for a1- lowing initial descent of the elevator before said supports start inwardly from their outwardly shiftable positions, 'thereby giving am le room for after-cleaning the patient.

n testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ADRIAN COMPER.

ports upon which the latter are mounted, a

Vcmlamode elevator mounted on said frame,

mns for raising said elevator, laterally, swingable arms pivoted at their lower ends to sind frame and connected at their upper ends with said shiftable supports, said arms normally converging upwardly and having longitudinal tracks, and shoes carried by said elOYlltor and engaging said tracks for outwardly swinging said arms to separate said supports and said mattress sections when said elevator is' raised.

' 18. A Structure as specified in claim 17; Said tracks having portions which stand substantially -vertical and parallel when saidr rts and mattress sections are. ted, w ereby the commode elevator may be initially lowered before said shiftable Supports and mattress sections start to close,

thereby giving ample room for after-cleaning the patient. A s 19. In an invalids bed, two laterally shiftable hip-supporting mattress sections having shitable supports, a commode elevator under sald supports, and means for outwardly rfi, 

